Philanthropy & Community Service

Fraternity and sorority chapters believe in giving back to the community and receive many requests to do so. Through community service and philanthropy, UNF fraternities and sororities donate thousands of hours and dollars toward Relay for Life, Dance Marathon, the Gate River Run, HabiJax, Builder's Care, Toys for Tots, the Donna Hicken Foundation, Shands Hospital, Children's Miracle Network, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida, and countless other local entities in the effort to assist these community partners and their respective missions.

Community Service

Community service is one of the most important aspects of fraternal life. It is safe to say that no other segment of the student population has dedicated more time and resources or raised more money for charity than the members of our Fraternity and Sorority Life at UNF. From volunteering in elementary schools to giving blood and raising money for charities (such as the American Heart Association and Jacksonville's Wolfson Children's Hospital), UNF's fraternity and sorority organizations are lending a helping hand by performing various community service projects all around the greater Jacksonville region.

Volunteer hours are DIRECT SERVICE HOURS that you are spending doing hands-on service. If you are planning a philanthropy event where you are inviting members to compete in a 5K race - you are generating funds for an organization - the hours spend preparing for the event and working the actual event are NOT service.

Philanthropy

'Philanthropy' is a term used for a service project sponsored by a fraternity or sorority chapter from which donations of goods and/or money are given to charitable organizations. It is raising money and/or goods in creative and fun ways and giving all proceeds to a worthy cause. Philanthropies can range from dancing all day and night, participating in an athletic competition with a team registration fee, having donors pledge money for each hour you participate an event, to large-scale organized bike rides for hundreds of miles, or even hiking the Appalachian Trail with donors who pledge per mile. Philanthropy is an excellent way to serve, bond with your fellow fraternity brothers or sorority sisters, and give back to the community.

If your chapter participates in another chapter's philanthropy event, then that is having fun and showing support for another organization. This does not constitute "philanthropy hours." "Philanthropy hours" do not exist.

Community Based Activity Definitions

Category

Description

Examples

Outreach

Providing an identified or recognized effort or service to extend to or include others, especially underserved, underrepresented, or vulnerable populations.